Muslim population rose by 24 percent during 2001-11

New Delhi: Muslim population in India has increased by 24 percent between 2001 and 2011 against national average of 18 percent with the community's representation rising to 14.2 percent from 13.4 percent of total population.

Among all states in the country, Jammu and Kashmir has the highest Muslim population (68.3 percent), followed by Assam (34.2 percent) and West Bengal (27 percent), according to the census data on the population of religious groups.

The growth rate of Muslim population in the country was around 29 percent between 1991 and 2001.

At 24 percent, the growth rate of Muslim population is higher than the national average of 18 percent for the decade (2001-11).

The most rapid rise in the share of Muslims in the total population was witnessed in Assam. Muslims constituted 30.9 percent of the state's population in 2001 and it has risen to

34.2 percent a decade later. Assam has been facing the problem of illegal immigration from Bangladeshi for last three decades.

Manipur is the only state where the percentage of their population has decreased -- from 8.8 percent to 8.4 percent.

West Bengal, another state where illegal immigration from Bangladesh has been an issue, has also seen a rise in Muslim population from 25.2 percent in 2001 to 27 percent in 2011. It is a growth of 1.8 percentage points, more that double the national average for Muslim population (8 percent).

Among the Union Territories, Lakshadweep has the highest Muslim population -- 96.2 percent.

The last time religion-based data was released in the country was in 2004, which was a record of figures till 2001.